NOVEMBER 10, 1948

PARIS, Tuesday—Frederick Osborn of the United States Atomic Energy Commission is looking very happy
these days since The United Nations General Assembly adopted the United States majority
control plan on atomic energy by a vote of 40 to six. It also called for consultations
of the Big Five and Canada and reconvening of the commission for any "practicable"
work.

The six votes against the plan came from the usual Soviet group.

Sometimes it seems as though the Soviets never will learn that constantly repeating
the same arguments only bores their colleagues and does not change their convictions.

Perhaps now that the United States Presidential election is over and the Soviets know
the information they received on the size of the Wallace vote is incorrect and that United States policy is fixed policy, the Big Five can
meet and confer more successfully than ever before.

* * *

I am very interested in the paid advertisements of Webb and Knapp, Inc., New York
realtors who assembled the United Nations property, which are appearing in the special
United Nations edition of the New York Times.

They have been drawing attention to the inadequate approaches to the United Nations
buildings and the surrounding slumlike communities.

They feel as I do, that the approaches—or avenues—and immediate vicinity should be
in keeping with the beauty and dignity of the buildings themselves.

Therefore, I think it is very important that the whole area be
redesigned
with fitting approaches, carefully landscaped on all sides.

The surrounding blocks should be planned so that attending delegates could live in
an adjoining and fashionable neighborhood.

I hope these plans are going to New York's Mayor O'Dwyer.

* * *

What a welcome President Truman must have received on his return to Washington. It clearly shows that the government
workers were glad to see him returned to office. There may have been a little selfishness
in this, because some were assured extended terms in office by his
reelection
, but there was also real admiration and affection in the reception.

I was a little amused at a newspaper item about the Democrats who sold their homes
to Republicans making deals to get them back—and of the many Republicans who made
hotel reservations for the inauguration.

I hope the Democrats get their homes back and the Republicans will turn over their
hotel rooms to the Democrats.

I'm particularly glad there'll be more women in Congress, and especially that more
Democratic women were elected. I hope the gentlemen will give them a chance to make
some plans and will help in carrying them out.

It's good to see President Truman already has announced that he soon will begin conferences
for the early repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act.

I understand that Senator Robert A. Taft, who has sailed for a short vacation trip over here, expects the law that bears his
name to remain upon statute books, though he will accept some amendments to it. You
can amend a law practically out of existence, but whatever is done, I hope the very
bad features of the act will be eliminated.

E. R.

(WORLD COPYRIGHT, 1948, BY UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC., REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR
IN PART PROHIBITED.)